LGBT open mic returns to Philly
A local spoken-word poet will host an open mic specifically for LGBTQ musicians, artists, poets and comedians of color.
The OUTSpoken open mic will be held 8-11 p.m. Oct. 6, at the Life Do Grow Farm, 231 N. 11th St. Rienne Scott, creator of OUTSpoken, is reintroducing the open mic to the city after taking the event to Baltimore, where she lived for four years.
Scott created the open mic in 2012 to fill a need for LGBTQ-affirming spaces for spoken-word artists in the city.
“I wanted to create a queer-based performance space as well as a stronger queer network within the city, especially for queer performers of color. We’re lacking spaces that are for us.”
Local bar hosts queer bazaar
Tattooed Mom is hosting the third installment of the Philly queer bazaar in support of local small-business owners.
The bazaar will take place 1-5 p.m. Sept. 29 on the second level of Tattooed Mom, 530 South St. It will feature 13 merchants selling jewelry, crafts, clothing and other handmade products. Tattooed Mom will provide brunch to guests until 4:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
This will be the first time the bazaar will have nonprofit organizations — the Starfruit Project and For Brown Bleeders — as featured vendors.
Kisha Robinson, the bazaar’s organizer, created the event because she couldn’t find any specifically for the queer community.
“I attended a few vending events and felt out of place. I wanted to provide a space where people felt comfortable to be themselves and share their products and services with other community members.”
Anderson Apartments snag
gardening award
The John C. Anderson Apartments, an LGBTQ-friendly apartment complex, won the blue ribbon for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s 2018 Gardening and Greening contest, edging out more than 300 applicants.
This is the third win for the “Garden Gang,” the residents who maintain the garden throughout the year. Elizabeth Coffey Williams, a resident of Anderson Apartments, was recognized for her gardening work by the society in the award letter, which thanked her for the “positive impact your efforts have on your community.”
— Adriana Fraser